Qatar suspends Gaza ceasefire efforts

KABUL (Pajhwok): Qatar says it has suspended efforts for mediating a ceasefire between the Palestinian group Hamas and Israel in Gaza.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Doha trashed media reports about Qatar’s withdrawal from mediation regarding the ceasefire in Gaza.

Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, spokesperson for the ministry, said in a statement Qatar had notified the parties 10 days ago it would stall efforts to mediate if an agreement was not reached.

He said Doha would resume those efforts with its partners when the parties demonstrated their willingness to end the brutal war and the ongoing suffering of civilians caused by catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the enclave.

The announcement comes after months of stop-and-go negotiations, efforts to achieve a ceasefire and hostage release deal.

PAN Monitor/mud